These days, a best-selling book is pretty much guaranteed to nose dive into Hollywood territory. The number of films and television series that have a book (and an extremely talented author) to thank for its success is seemingly inexhaustible.
The latest to hit the big screen is Delia Owen’s Where The Crawdads Sing, a book that quite literally changed lives with its gripping, emotional 1960s narrative centred on an abandoned girl named Kya. It’s no wonder that Reese Witherspoon named it as one of Reese’s Book Club picks, ultimately sealing its fate as a screen masterpiece.
As we near the film’s release to streaming, anticipation and hype for Crawdads is at an all time high. Whether you’re a long time fan or merely curious about what all the fuss is about, it’s certain to be quite the ride—and everyone best be on it.
Below, everything you need to know about the film, and when and where you can watch it in Australia.
What is Where The Crawdads Sing about?
The coming of age story follows a young girl named Kya who was abandoned as a child and left to grow up alone on the Carolina Coast in a town called Barkley Cove. Often referred to as “Marsh Girl”, Kya’s special relationship with her mostly outdoor surroundings allowed her to grow up to be a talented naturalist, though people in the local town are suspicious and scared of the outcast girl.
Then, tragedy strikes the community when a local man, Chase, is found dead. Kya quickly becomes a suspect, and she’s thrown into a world crueller than she’s never experienced. But what comes out of it, and her ultimate fate, is something she, nor anyone else could have anticipated.
Who is in the cast of Where The Crawdads Sing?
The role of Kya went to 24-year-old Daisy Edgar-Jones, who shot to fame following the 2020 television series, Normal People, also based on a best-selling book by Sally Rooney.
Taylor John Smith plays Kya’s love interest Tate Walker. The 27-year-old has starred in romantic thriller You Get Me, as well as Liam Neeson’s Blacklight.
Harris Dickinson plays Chase Andrews, the boy whose death is pinned on Kya. Dickinson, 26, has a slew of films and TV shows to his name including Beach Rats, The Kings Man and Trust.
Rounding out the cast is David Strathairn as Tom Milton (Nightmare Alley, Nomadland) Ahna O’Reilly as Ma (The Help), Garret Dillahunt as Pa (Raising Hope, Ambulance) and Michael Hyatt as Mabel (Snowfall, Acts Of Worship)
Where can you watch it in Australia?
Where The Crawdads Sing will be ready to stream online in Australia on Prime Video from January 28, 2023. Sign up here to start streaming stat.
But, if you’d like to check out the book first before watching the film, you can shop it here.
Stream it now on Prime Video, live and on demand with a 30 day free trial. Start your free trial here.